On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into a law a bill outlawing abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy. However, unlike the other so-called “heartbeat” bills, Texas’ bill has a provision that would allow private citizens to file civil lawsuits against doctors, staff, or even a patient’s family or friends who “aid and abet” in such procedures.
Abbott said at Wednesday’s bill signing: “Our Creator endowed us with the right to lifeAnd yet millions of children lose their right to life every year because of abortion. In Texas, we work to save those lives.” The law is slated to take effect this September.
Abortion rights groups say the law is unconstitutional and in violation of Roe v. Wade, which prohibits states from banning abortion before fetal viability, which generally happens around 24 weeks into a pregnancy.
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